Artificial tooth for bridgework.



No. 804,116. PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905. H. B. GREGORY.

ARTIFICIAL TOOTH FOR BRIDGEWORK.

APILIOATION FILED 11.13, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Application filed April 13, 1905. Serial No. 255,386-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. GREGORY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newberry, in the county of Luce and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Teeth for Bridgework; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in artificial teeth for bridgework.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved method of preparing artificial teeth for bridgework, whereby the former will be firmly held in position, to replace lost teeth, between the natural teeth in the mouth.

A further object is to provide means whereby the artificial teeth mounted on the bridgework may be readily replaced should one of the same become broken, thus obviating the necessity of supplying a new bridge.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear view of a bridge constructed in accordance with the invention and arranged for holding three artificial teeth. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken through the center of one artificial tooth, showing the manner in which the same is secured to the bridge. Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of one of the artificial teeth used in connection with the bridge, and Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the platinum cap which is applied to the inner side of the tooth.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes an artificial tooth, which may be of any suitable construction, but which is preferably formed of porcelain in the usual manner. On the inner side of the tooth is arranged the metallic loop or staple 2, which is formed of platinum or any suitable metal or alloy of metals, said loops or staples being baked into the body of the tooth or soldered to platinum rings which have been baked in the tooth previous to the soldering.

Over the platinum loop or staple 2 is pressed a cap 3, which is also preferably formed of platinum and. is adapted to fit loosely to the stable or loop and the adjacent inner side of the tooth. Over the platinum cap and the inner side of the tooth is then placed a back plate 4, which is preferably formed of gold and is pressed and burnished closely onto said cap and the inner side of the tooth, as shown.

The required number of artificial teeth to fill the spacebetween the natural teeth in the mouth are thus individually treated and provided with separate backing-plates. After the plates have been so formed the artificial teeth are removed from the same, after which solder is flowed over said plates, thereby securely connecting the same together to form a bridge. After the backing-plates have thus been connected together the artificial teeth are again placed in the outer side thereof and securely cemented thereto. By this arrangement and manner of securing the teeth to the bridge-plates any one of the same may be removed therefrom andreplaced by another without disturbing the rest of the teeth or necessitating the employment of a new bridgeplate. By removing the artificial teeth while the backing-plates are being soldered together the same will not be cracked or broken by the heat occurring from the soldering operation.

A bridge-plate constructed as herein shown and described will be simple, strong, and durable in construction, practical and reliable in use, the arrangement of the teeth thereon being such that a broken tooth may be quickly removed and replaced at a small expense.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An artificial tooth having secured to its inner side a loop, a cap arranged over said loop, an individual backing pressed over said cap and the inner side of the tooth, said backings being connected together to form a bridge, and said artificial teeth being secured in said individual backings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY B. GREGORY.

Witnesses:

PERRY LEIGHTON, HARRY L. HARRIS. 

